Wig support

ABSTRACT

A collapsible wig support is formed by means of a plurality of bendable ribs which are assembled in a generally circular arrangement with one set of ends of the ribs movable with respect to the other to bend the ribs to form a generally spherical shape suitable for mounting a wig. The ribs are latched in the bent condition. The ribs themselves may be suitable for carrying fasteners for securing the wig thereto directly, or a cover may be placed over the framework of ribbing so that the wig can be attached or pinned to the cover itself. The mounting of the rib framework is supported by a suitable type of stand or clamping structure so that it can be erected and retained on a table or the like. When not in use, the framework may be unlatched so that the ribs unbend to a collapsed condition, whereby the entire unit takes up very little space and is suitable for storage and for portability.

United States Patent ABSTRACT: A collapsible wig support is formed by means of a plurality of bendable ribs which are assembled in a generally circular arrangement with one set of ends of the ribs movable with respect to the other to bend the ribs to form a generally spherical shape suitable for mounting a wig. The ribs are latched inthe bent condition. The ribs themselves may be suitable for carrying fasteners for securing the wig thereto directly, or a cover may be placed over the framework of ribbing so that the wig can be attached or pinned to the cover itself. The mounting of the rib framework is supported by a suitable type of stand or clamping structure so that it can be erected and retained on a table or the like. When not in use,

the framework may be unlatched so that the ribs unbend to a collapsed condition, whereby the entire unit takes up very little space and is suitable for storage and for portability.

snm 1 nF 2 INVENTOR. ALBERT ROSENIBE RG ATTORNEY PATENTEUMAR slam SHEET 2 0F 2 INVNTOR., ALBERT ROSENBERG www ATTOR NEY wie surron'r BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to wig support structures, and particularly to a collapsible wig support which is quite compact in collapsed condition.

Customarily, head blocks are used for supporting wigs when they are not worn and when it is desired to dress or style the wig. Such head blocks are necessarily large and bulky and inconvenient for carrying, as well as for storage. Prior attempts at providing a collapsible wig support have employed inflatable structures or nesting structures. Such supports have not been fully satisfactory, since it is either difficult to inflate the wig support or the supports are not compact for storage and portability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION p Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved collapsible wig support.

Another object is to provide a new and improved collapsible wig support which is quite compact in the collapsedcondition, and effective for supporting the wig in the erect condition.

ln accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a plurality of elongated, flexible ribs are provided. The top ends of the ribs are assembled in a compact cluster, as are the lower ends of the ribs. The upper and lower clusters of rib ends are constructed to be movable one with respect to the other, so that as the rib ends move toward each other, the intermediate portions of the ribs are flexed outwardly to form a generally rounded framework of ribs, which framework is suitable for supporting a wig. In a particular embodiment, two telescoping rods are respectively connected to the opposite clusters of rib ends, whereby movement of the rods together to a telescoped condition flexes the ribs to the erected condition, and separating the telescoping rods unbends the ribs to a compact assembly. A latch is provided for retaining the rods in the telescoped condition and thereby the ribs are retained in the rounded framework condition. ln addition, a stand is provided for supporting the rods on a table surface by means of a clamp or suction cups, so that the framework can be retained in erected condition and for supporting a wig.

` BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a collapsible wig support embodying this invention and shown in assembled, erected condition;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the assembled wig support of FIG. 1 and shown in an enlarged view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. l but with the rib framework in collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled and erected wig support illustrated in working condition for supporting a wig; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the collapsed condition of the wig support illustrated in its compact condition for portability.

In the drawing, corresponding parts are referenced throughout by similar numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wig support includes a plurality of elongated ribs 10 which are clustered at their upper andv lower ends, and the latter are pivotally connected respectively to an upper ring 12 and a lower ring 14. The rings 12 and 14 are respectively secured to inner and outer telescoping tubes 16 and 18, respectively. The upperring 12 is secured by means of a cap portion 20 to the top ofthe inner tube 16;. The lower ring 14 is attached to amedial outside portion of outer tube 1B. A depression inthe inner tube forms a groove 22 therein, extending through the upper length thereof, which mates with an indentation forming a key 24 in the upper end of the outer tube 18, and the key 24 and groove 22 guide the relative telescoping movement of the two tubes and prevent relative rotation thereof.

A slender detent button 26 is biased by a spring 28 and retained within inner tube 16 for slidable movement in a corresponding slot 30 in the outer tube 18, where the shouldered button 26 is retained when the tubes are telescoped together to the position shown in FIG. l. Manual depression of the button out of the hole 30 permits the tubes 16 and 18 to be slid apart to the position shown in FIG. 4. Various other suitable latch constructions are welll known. The ring l2, as shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3,. includes a plurality of radially projecting spaced ears 32, and in the space between each adjacent pair the end of a rib 10 is pivotally positioned. A wire 34 is threaded through holes through theends of the ribs and serves as a pivot pin for all of the ribs 10. Various types of pivot, hinge or ball joints may be usedi, with the ribs separate from or integral with the ring 12. The lower ring 14 is similarly constructed, so that the upper and lower rib ends are assembled in circular clusters with the intermediate rib portions generally free to be, bent..The rings 12 and 14 may be secured to the telescoping tubes in any suitable fashion.

The ribs are generally flat in their intermediate portions and are slender at their ends, where they are connected to the rings l2 and 14. Preferably, the ribs 10 are thinner at their intermediate portions in order to provide greatest flexibility there for assuming a rounded, somewhat spherical shape in the bent condition illustrated in FIG. 1. The ribs at the upper ends are preferably somewhat thicker and less flexible in order that there is less bending of the ribs at the upper end so that it assumes a somewhat flattened or oblate shape, corresponding to the general structure of the human head. Thus the ribs can be structured with greater or lesser amounts of flexibility (e. g., by varying the thicknesses) along their lengths at different portions thereof (and, if desired, at different ones of the ribs). Thereby, a considerably variety of shapes can be formed with the generally circular arrangement of ribs and by bending the ribs as described. The size of the framework head may be determined with different lengths of ribs.

The lower end of tube 18 is flattened into an arm 34 pivotally connected to a similar arm 36 projecting up from a flat stand member 38 to the lower face of which are connected a` plurality of suction cups 40. A wing; nut and screw 42 pro- ,vide a hinged joint between the arms` 34 and 36 so that the stand 3S may be folded with respect to the rib-supporting tubes 16 and 18 as illustrated in FIG. 7 and whereby the stand may be set up and locked in relative position to hold the tubes 16 and 18 in erect condition, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Various other suitable stands and clamping devices for retaining the rib framework in erect condition are well known.

The ribs may be formed of various materials, such as steel or other metals, and may also be molded out of various suitable plastics. One or more of the ribs may have prongs or other projections for securely attaching a wig thereto, or holes or individual fabric coverings for the ribs may be provided so that the wig can be pinned directly to the rib framework. Thus the wig can be directly secured to the rib framework in its assembled condition shown in FIG. l. Alternatively, a fabric cover 41 may be fitted over the ribs and removably secured to the ring 14 by means of snap buttons 42, or by means of a drawstring (not shown). The cap 41 may be made of cloth or other suitable fabric, and in the collapsed condition shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 hangs rather loosely around the collapsed rib framework. In the assembled condition (FIG. 6), the rib framework expands the cap 41 and stretches it to a smooth support to which the wig 43 `may be securely pinned or otherwise fastened. The removable construction of the cover 41 enables the user to keep it` clean. The cover 41 may be printed in various colors and with imaginative faces or other designs.

In use, the collapsible wig support is stored and carried in the condition illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the ribs are collapsed, and the stand 38 is located to be generally parallel to the tube 18. The tube 18, when it is desired to use the wig support, is rotated to an erect position with respect to the stand 3d and retained in that position by tightening of the wing nut 82. The stand is then mounted on a table top or other horizontal surface by compressing the suction cups 40 thereon. Thereafter, by pressing down on the top of the cap 41, or on the cap (if no fabric surface cap is provided), the cluster of upper rib ends is moved down with respect to the lower ones, with the inner tube 16 sliding telescopingly within the outer tube 18 until the detent button 26 is moved out through the hole and the rib framework assumes the generally spherical shape illustrated in FIG. 1. Thereupon, the wig support may be used for supporting the wig as illustrated in FIG. 6. ln that condition, the support will retain the wig in the customary fashion for retaining the shape thereof or for making adjustments to the styling of the hair and other processing (combing, teasing, setting) in a known fashion. Thus the wig support in its assembled condition may be used in the same fashion as any other wig support. When the support is not used, it may be left standing or may be folded and collapsed to the condition illustrated in FIG. 7, whereby it may be stored in a drawer or the like. Moreover, in travel, the wig support is collapsed and folded to a very compact condition, and being of relatively sturdy construction it may be carried in any convenient fashion and in various sizes and shapes of luggage.

Thus a new and improved collapsible wig support is provided which is collapsible and foldable for compact storage and portability, and which is readily assembled to an operating support condition. From the foregoing description, various modifications of this invention within the spirit thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

lclaim:

1. A collapsible wig support comprising: a plurality of elongated flexible ribs, first means for mounting first ends of said ribs in a compact cluster and second means for mounting second ends of said ribs in a compact cluster; means for guiding movement of said first and second mounting means with respect to each other and for moving said clusters of rib ends toward each other to bend the intermediate rib portions in a rounded framework for supporting a wig and away from each other to extend said ribs in compact assembly.

2. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim l and further comprising means for latching said first and second means to retain said ribs in said rounded framework.

3. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim l and further comprising means connected to said movement guiding means for retaining said rounded framework on a table.

4. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim l and further comprising a fabric cover for said rib framework.

5. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim l wherein said guiding means includes first and second telescoping tubes, said first and second mounting means each including separate means for pivotally connecting said first and second rib ends respectively around said first and second tubes.

6. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim 5 and further comprising spring detent means on one of said tubes and engageable with a portion of the other thereof in a predetermined telescoping condition of said tubes. 

1. A collapsible wig support comprising: a plurality of elongated flexible ribs, first means for mounting first ends of said ribs in a compact cluster and second means for mounting second ends of said ribs in a compact cluster; means for guiding movement of said first and second mounting means with respect to each other and for moving said clusters of rib ends toward each other to bend the intermediate rib portions in a rounded framework for supporting a wig and away from each other to extend said ribs in compact assembly.
 2. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim 1 and further comprising means for latching said first and second means to retain said ribs in said rounded framework.
 3. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim 1 and further comprising means connected to said movement guiding means for retaining said rounded framework on a table.
 4. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a fabric cover for said rib framework.
 5. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim 1 wherein said guiding means includes first and second telescoping tubes, said first and second mounting means each including separate means for pivotally connecting said first and second rib ends respectively around said first and second tubes.
 6. A collapsible wig support as recited in claim 5 and further comprising spring detent means on one of said tubes and engageable with a portion of the other thereof in a predetermined telescoping condition of said tubes. 